Improvement in hand mowing-machines



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN M. SPENCER, OF ENFIELD, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN HAND MOWlNG-IVIACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 29,922, dated September4, ISbO.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. SPENCER, of

Enfield, in the county of Penobscot and State` of Maine, have inventedan Improved Hand Mowing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the sameis lfully described and represented in the following specification andthe accompanying drawings, of which- Figure l is a top view, Fig. 2 aside elevation, and Fig. 3 a longitudinal section, of it.

The said machine is intended to be put in operation by an individuallaying hold of the handles and pressing the machine onward in front ofhim.

In the drawings, A A exhibit two driving and supportingwheels,connectedtogether by cross-bars a ct and metallic rods b b, andso applied to a sustaining-shalt, B as to be capable of revolving freelythereon. To the ends of the said shaft a hand-frame, C, provided withhandles c c, is affixed, the same being formed as shown in the drawings.There projects from the frame C, and forward between the two wheels, alifter-frame, D, composed of two arms, d d, united by a rotary shaft, e.There is also applied to the shaft B, so as to turn freely vertically onit and between the handle trame and wheels, and so as to extendtherefrom, as shown in the drawings, acutter-frame, E, the same beingsuspended oy means of a rod, f, from the middle of the rotary shaft c.This cutter-frame carries in the lower part of its front, and extendingacross it, a series of teeth, g g g, projecting from across-bar, It, andhaving a saw or serrated cutter, F, arranged horizontally and so as toslide freely in a 1ongitudinal direction through all of them. Two belts,Gr G, are affixed respectively to opposite ends of the said saw,and fromthence are cohtinued horizontally to. and bent around two guides orrollers,i i, and are led upward from the same to and made to embrace twobellcranks, H H, carried by two shafts, I I, as shown in the drawings.These shafts are arranged and supported in opposite sides of thecutter-frame, and have their cranks projecting in the same direction. Aseparate beveledtooth pinion, K, is affixed to each shaft and made toengage with one of two beveled gears, L L, that are respectivelyfastened tothe outer sides of the two wheels..

When this machineis forced forward by au operative, while laying hold ofits handles, the rotary movements of the wheels, by means of thegearing, will set the two shafts I I, with their cranks H H, inrevolution, and thereby producequicklongitudinal reciprocating movementsof the serrated cutter, which,operating with the teeth g g, will mow orcut any blades of grass that may intervene between the teeth and be incontact with the cutter. The operative, by means of the handle-frame andcutter-frame lifter, can iinpel and guide the machine and regulate thedistance ofthe cutter from the ground. He can also allow thecutter-frame to rest and run on the ground, or he can at any momentraise it off the same to clear any rootsor obstructions. Thus, whilehold of the handles, he has complete control ofthe machine, and with itcan mow grass or grain to great advantage by manual power.

My machine is intended to be a cheap substitute for the usual expensivehorsepower mowing-machines, and for use in situation where it would bedifcult to employ the latter to advantage. The construction andarrangement of its parts render it very efficient in operation.

I claim- The arrangement of the serrated cutter E, two sets of gears, KIl, two cranked shafts, I I, and the belts G G, applied to such cutterand cranks substantially in manner and to operate as described.

JOHN M. SPENCER.

Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY,

E. P. EALE,J1-.

